Born Free’s President and Co-Founder, Will Travers OBE, said: “As many as 8,000 lions languish in more than 200 captive breeding facilities across South Africa. These animals are cynically bred exclusively to generate money. Unwitting tourists fuel this despicable industry by participating in activities such as petting cubs and walking with lions, while unsuspecting volunteers rear cubs in the mistaken belief they are destined to be released into the wild. Once adult, many of these animals are moved to ‘canned hunting’ facilities to be shot in enclosures by ‘sport hunters.’ Their bones are then sold into an international trade sanctioned by the South African government.”

Africa’s lions are facing an unprecedented crisis. As few as 20,000 wild lions now occupy just 8% of their historic range. Shrinking habitats, reduced prey numbers, conflict with local people, unsustainable hunting practices, and increasing demand for lion products (particularly bones) in international trade cause many scientists to predict further devastating declines.

In spite of this, in the decade to 2013 South Africa declared almost 7,500 lion trophy exports, and in 2017 the government issued an export quota for 800 lion skeletons from captive-bred lions. In addition, over the last five years South Africa has exported over 200 live captive-bred tigers, and dozens of tiger trophies, bones, claws and skulls, mostly to Asia and the Middle East. Born Free believes this trade fuels demand and puts wild lions and other big cats at even greater risk. Some of the buyers and countries to which these products are destined also have strong associations with wildlife trafficking.

South Africa’s predator breeding industry has been condemned by international conservation organisations and animal welfare groups alike. The South African authorities admit that captive lion breeding has ‘limited conservation value’. Even some prominent hunting groups have publicly distanced themselves from canned hunting practices. Despite this, leading members of South Africa’s national and provincial governments have been instrumental in promoting the growth of the industry.

The report uses numerous sources of information to highlight the support the industry has received from public officials. It also draws attention to links between the export of lion trophies and products from captive-bred lions and the trafficking of other wildlife products. It concludes that, if South Africa is to be regarded as a responsible and ethical custodian of its wildlife, and a country that cares about the safety and security of wildlife elsewhere in Africa and across the globe, urgent action is needed to end the captive breeding of lions, canned hunting and the sale of lion bones and skeletons into international markets. The focus should be on protecting lions in the wild.

Travers added: “On 19th March, the 34th anniversary of the founding of Born Free, the expansion of this heinous industry would make my late father and Co-Founder, Bill Travers, turn in his grave. The inauguration of South Africa’s new President, Cyril Ramaphosa, on 16th February, heralds the opportunity for a fresh start. Along with all the many other challenges the nation must address, bringing an end, in an intelligent and humane way, to the scourge of lion breeding farms and the trade in captive-bred lions should be a priority.”

These events raise significant questions about biosecurity and disease in British zoos. Before leaping to the assumption that badgers are the cause of the presence of TB in these zoos, careful analysis must be undertaken of the various potential routes of transmission of TB to the animals.

Whether or not badgers are implicated in this situation, zoos in this country have a legal obligation to prevent the intrusion of wild animals into their premises; yet it seems that both Dartmoor Zoo and Paignton Zoo admit that amendments were needed to their fencing and enclosures in order to comply with this requirement.

Which other zoos are permitting their animals to mingle with free-living wildlife, and what are the associated risks? Until we can assess the situation fully and accurately, it is hard not to be alarmed by the potential risk that zoos represent to human and animal health. The Born Free Foundation is calling on Defra, in consultation with their Zoos Expert Committee, to examine whether legislation and the standards relating to zoos set out in the Zoo Experts Committee Handbook, together with current practice, need reconsideration in order to guarantee protection from disease for animals in British zoos, British wildlife, zoo staff and zoo visitors.

As the hour-long documentary Britain’s Polar Bear Cub airs on Channel 4 on 18th March documenting the mating and pregnancy which led to the birth of the first polar bear to be born in the UK for 25 years, international wildlife charity Born Free questions whether this event is really something to be celebrated.

The cub was born at Highland Wildlife Park, which is operated by the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland, in late 2017. However, serious concerns have been raised about the life the cub will experience in captivity.

Research commissioned by Born Free in 1987, and subsequent evaluations of polar bears in captivity, indicate that this species is profoundly ill-suited to the zoo environment, with widespread abnormal stereotypical behaviours, infanticide and high rates of cub mortality.

Earlier this year, reacting to news of the birth of the cub, Born Free President, Will Travers OBE, said: “At a time when the zoo community should be phasing-out the keeping of polar bears in captivity, the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland has decided to row against the tide. From a welfare point of view, the enclosure at the Highland Wildlife Park may be significantly better than the blue-rinse concrete pits that people so often associate with polar bears in zoos, but we contend that our efforts on behalf of this species should be focused on mitigating the impacts of human-induced climate change and securing the species in the wild, not subjecting another polar bear to a lifetime in captivity.

“Doug Richardson, Head of Living Collections at the zoo, has stated that his approach to care and husbandry mirrors ‘what would happen in the wild’. The wild is a place this cub will never see or know, and how depressing that we still believe that we should have ‘living collections’.

“Will this infant polar bear fare any better than the young polar bear born at Berlin zoo, who was reported dead on 2nd January 2018, aged 26 days, or the cub born to the same mother who was found dead in March 2017? Born Free and our many supporters around the world sadly cannot celebrate events at the Highland Wildlife Park.”

He added: “Coming just days after Edinburgh Zoo announced the suspension (some say end) of its expensive, controversial and invasive panda programme, the way we subject captive wild animals to intensive scrutiny, virtually around the clock, just reinforces how unnatural and inward-looking our relationship with wild animals is becoming.”

Born Free maintains that breeding programmes in zoos for species such as polar bears have little or no role to play in tackling the many significant threats that, confront wildlife populations, habitats and ecosystems today. Born Free and its many supporters are working to end the exploitation of wild animals in captivity while protecting threatened species where they belong – in the wild.

The value of captive breeding programmes for conservation may be in doubt after new research found that captive-born animals are much less likely to breed successfully compared to their wild-born counterparts.

The research unveiled some surprising universal patterns that were particularly pronounced among marine species. The data, published in the journal Nature Communications, included measurements of various reproductive traits including fertility, number of offspring and timing of reproduction, and found that certain traits, such as offspring weight and mothering ability, were the most strongly affected by being born in captivity.

A total of 2,199 animal species have been recommended for captive breeding by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), in an apparent bid to reduce the threat of their extinction. Yet the discovery that animals born in captivity have on average 42% decreased odds of reproductive success compared to those born in the wild may suggest that these recommendations need to be reviewed.

This research provides evidence that, in general, wild-born animals breed more successfully than those born in captivity, and supports Born Free’s longstanding concerns that the claims that zoos contribute to conservation through captive breeding are actually a distraction from genuine conservation efforts in the wild. Born Free will not give up on the idea of conserving wildlife in the wild: it is happening right now. So the question we ask is whether people want to see conservation efforts focused in the wild or in captivity? For us, we are proud to be working to keep wildlife in the wild. You can join us.

Tipango ole Sakimpa, a pastoralist from the Maasai community in Mbirikani Group Ranch in the Amboseli ecosystem, is a happy man yet again.

In 2011, Born Free helped Tipango and his friend Maen Kutata construct a predator-proof boma. Despite having the wooden posts having been treated against termites, the indefatigable insects chewed them and then were further weakened by livestock’s urine. Three years later, almost 90% of the wooden posts had fallen and they started losing livestock again, forcing all in the homestead to spend sleepless nights guarding them against lions and hyenas.

In our ongoing monitoring and evaluation efforts of the predator-proof bomas, we approached the co-owners with an offer to replace the weakened wooden posts with recycled plastic posts. Having noted the effect of termites on wooden posts overtime, Born Free made the decision to use plastic posts as they are termite-proof and are also made from recycled plastic, one of the major menaces for the environment in Kenya.

As per the co-sharing agreement between the beneficiaries and Born Free Kenya, the former must contribute 25% for construction costs while the latter takes up the rest. This also applies for repairs such as replacement of posts.

Between 2011 and 2013, we constructed 143 bomas with wooden posts. Once we noted the need to replace these posts, we embarked on boma-to-boma campaign to convince the beneficiaries from replacing the damaged posts with indigenous trees poles as a desperate measure to protect their livestock at night. However, cutting down indigenous trees is a further threat to an already fragile ecosystem. So far, we have managed to repair only seven due to slow uptake by the community as their only livelihood – pastoralism – has been negatively impacted by severe drought.

I recently visited Tipango to assess the fortified boma which was repaired mid-2015 and he had this to say.

“I was thinking nothing can prevent lions from getting inside the boma to attack my livestock. Before the replacement with plastic posts two and half years ago, lions and hyenas were crossing over the fallen wooden posts and killing our livestock. I really appreciate Born Free for coming to our rescue again. Now we are back to normal sleeping hours at night, the plastic posts have fortified the boma and provided security for our livestock at night. We are also happy that our families are also secure within the homestead, thanks to Born Free!"

There remain 136 bomas that need repairs, some of them urgently, as they are only predator-proof by name. You can help us do this by getting involved and in turn protecting lions and other carnivores in Amboseli.

]]>Homepage NewsKenya NewsTue, 13 Mar 2018 10:09:00 +0000Lilongwe Impact Report 2017http://www.bornfree.org.uk/index.php?id=34&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=2813&cHash=c7cd62870f70f9f440a4b3e514f288ab
In 2007, with the support of the Born Free Foundation, the Lilongwe Wildlife Trust (LWT) launched...In 2007, with the support of the Born Free Foundation, the Lilongwe Wildlife Trust (LWT) launched their flagship project, the Lilongwe Wildlife Centre. Since then, and with our ongoing support, LWT has gone from strength to strength – today it stands as Malawi’s leading wildlife welfare and conservation charity.

Equipped with the Wildlife Emergency Response Unit, established in partnership with the Department of National Parks and Wildlife, the Lilongwe Wildlife Trust is a lifeline for wild animals in distress. The team responds to and provides emergency treatment to individual animals - rehabilitating them and, wherever possible, releasing them back into the wild where they belong. In 2017 alone, they performed an astounding 89 animal rescues and released 67 animals back into the wild.

That’s not all! LWT is also involved with numerous wildlife research projects, with a focus on primates, elephants and carnivores, covering topics such species conservation, disease screening and the release of captive wildlife. Through education and advocacy initiatives, LWT works with local government, schools and other organisations to inspire and empower people to safeguard their natural heritage for future generations. Their work doesn’t end there, LWT play a vital role in tackling illegal wildlife trade in Malawi. In 2017, a record number of wildlife trafficking arrests and seizures were made through LWT-supported investigations and intelligence units, with sentences of up to 18 years passed for wildlife trafficking.

The prospect of American trophy hunters returning to Africa with elephants in their sights increased markedly with the news that the US Fish and Wildlife Service has overturned Obama-era decisions that prevented import permits being issued for elephant trophies from Zimbabwe and Zambia. In future the Service has decided that it will be considering applications on a ‘case by case basis’.

When the prospect of the Obama administration’s ban on elephant trophy imports from Zimbabwe and Zambia being overturned was first raised back in November 2017, President Trump described elephant hunting as a ‘horror show’, questioned where the money paid by hunters ends up, and suggested that he would continue to enforce the ban.

The latest announcement seems to indicate a change of direction by the administration, and reflects the powerful influence of sport hunting organisations in the United States. Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke, and Greg Sheenan, the current head of the Fisheries and Wildlife Service that has responsibility for issuing import permits for wildlife trophies, are both reported to be keen hunters and supporters of the trophy hunting industry. The Interior Department recently established an ‘International Wildlife Conservation Council’ comprised entirely of hunting proponents, with a remit to advise the Secretary of the Interior on the ‘conservation, wildlife law enforcement, and economic benefits that result from U.S. citizens traveling abroad to hunt.’

The move potentially paves the way for American trophy hunters to resume the slaughter of large numbers of elephants for fun in Zimbabwe, Zambia and other African countries, with devastating consequences for individual elephants and their family groups.

Born Free’s Founder and President Will Travers OBE said: “Trophy hunting is a cruel and abhorrent activity which kills magnificent animals, devastates animal families and groups, and delivers no credible or significant benefits to wildlife conservation or local communities. At a time when Africa’s elephants are in serious decline as a result of habitat loss, conflict with people and catastrophic levels of ivory poaching, the last thing they need to contend with is wealthy Westerners with nothing better to do with their money than gun them down in the name of sport. President Trump was absolutely right to describe trophy hunting as a “horror show”. It is clear that he takes a moral view of a practice that the great majority of people utterly reject. We implore him to overrule this announcement and permanently ban the import of trophies from elephants and other threatened wild animals with immediate effect.”

Born Free is opposed to the killing of any animal for sport or pleasure. The debate around this deeply controversial activity can be challenged on a number of levels – financial, sustainability, employment, development – but ultimately it is a moral decision: whether to take the life of a living creature ‘for fun’. Born Free contends that this simply cannot be acceptable.

]]>Homepage NewsWildlife Trade NewsElephants Campaign NewsFri, 09 Mar 2018 09:51:00 +0000Indonesia zoo condemned over smoking orangutanhttp://www.bornfree.org.uk/index.php?id=34&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=2809&cHash=ba3dd8c4e1c3a5807f1ccfee420b54de
Footage from Bandung Zoo, Indonesia, showing an orangutan smoking has been criticised by the Born...Footage from Bandung Zoo, Indonesia, showing an orangutan smoking has been criticised by the Born Free Foundation and other animal protection authorities. The orangutan, named Odon, is shown smoking a cigarette after a visitor flicked it into his enclosure.

While the Zoo’s spokesperson claims that there is a sign at the enclosure which says visitors are not allowed to give food and cigarettes to the animals, this incident demonstrates how easily a harmful object could be thrown into animals’ enclosures.

This is not the first time that apes have been shown smoking in captivity. In 2012 an orangutan named Tori at the Taru Jurug Zoo in central Java learnt to smoke from picking up cigarette butts from visitors. The zoo had to move her out of reach of visitors to put an end to her habit.

Born Free maintains that such incidents highlight the significant risks posed to the health and safety of wild animals in zoos. Born Free is proud to be working with partners in the Asia for Animals coalition in calling for change to zoos in Indonesia.

"On International Women’s Day, let us consider how three remarkable female scientists changed the way we view the Great Apes, and in so doing, transformed our understanding of ourselves.

Dubbed the Trimates, Drs Jane Goodall, Dian Fossey (pictured) and Biruté Galdikas have all spent decades in the company of our closest relatives in the animal kingdom - chimpanzees, gorillas and orangutans respectively - deep in their rainforest homes. The example they set has inspired so many young women to follow in their footsteps that primatology is one of the few sciences where women outnumber men.

All three also founded organisations to rally support for their study animals and their habitat and all three have changed the course of events that might, without their passion, scientific discoveries and dedication, have seen our zoological next of kin driven even closer to extinction.

It was the late Dr Louis Leakey, famed Kenyan paleo-anthropologist, who helped all three get started in the 1960s, believing that women made better observers than men, but it was their extraordinary determination that kept them going. In Jane and Biruté’s case, they continue their distinctive mix of research, advocacy and field conservation.

Sadly, Dian Fossey is no longer with us, though her work is continued by those she inspired; thanks to their efforts, building on hers, mountain gorillas are now increasing in number each year - the only kind of ape apart from ourselves for whom that is the case (bearing in mind that they number in the hundreds and live sustainably while we number in the billions and don’t). We are still struggling to halt the decline in populations of other gorillas, chimpanzees and orangutans, indeed of half the species of primates.

At a time when society is re-examining the role of women, these three role models stand out. Though very different in personality and working in very different parts of the world, they each rose to the occasion whenever they or the species they studied were threatened, overcoming challenges and prejudices that would have defeated most. As our understanding of the importance of primates and their habitat in maintaining climate stability grows, so should our gratitude for these extraordinary women, and so should the legions of young people who they have inspired."